Merach Q1S Pro Electromagnetic Rowing Machine, Auto 16-Level Resistance

Why it's worth it

The Q1S Pro uses an electromagnetic flywheel with 16 levels, and the Merach app can change resistance for you mid-workout. Its dual rail is rated to 350 pounds, the highest of the affordable rowers here, and owners park it upright between sessions.

Twist the dial and resistance changes without you breaking stroke. Better still, follow a session in the Merach app and it does the adjusting for you — the class calls for a harder stretch, the flywheel firms up, your hands never leave the handle. It also works with Kinomap, so you can row a river route instead of staring at a wall. For a rower at this level, hands-free resistance is unusual.

The 350-pound frame rating is the highest of the budget-friendly rowers in this guide. That's not just a number for heavier rowers; it's a proxy for how planted the frame feels when you drive hard. The dual slide rail copies the layout of old wooden rowers and resists the tipping you get from single-rail designs. If a wobbly machine has made you row timidly before, this one should feel steadier.

From our review of 6 magnetic resistance rowing machines, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +Twist the dial and resistance changes without you breaking stroke
• +The 350-pound frame rating is the highest of the budget-friendly rowers in this guide
• +Owners come back to one thing over and over: how quiet it is
• +It's also easy to live with

What to know

• –The free app content is thinner than the marketing suggests
• –There's no real screen — you prop a phone or tablet in front of you, and if your phone dies mid-session you're rowing blind